Introduction to Zoology
Observing and Thinking About Animals Lab
Teacher Notes
Part A
Day 1 of Lab
(Make twice as many cards as maximum number of students in the biggest class.
Include unusual animals of every type, from every phylum, that show the animal in
its natural habitat. Assign a letter to each one of the cards.)
” This lab must be written up using the lab template and guidelines that are posted
on the web page. Follow the directions on both documents very carefully.
” You may work with a partner, but you must both write up and submit your own
lab. Only data can be identical to that of your partner. You must write your
own introduction, answers to questions, and conclusions.
” Observe and Think! NO research should be done about your animals. You are
to gain all your information from looking at the pictures and speculating!
1. Select two cards, sketch animal in pencil, one half page of unlined paper according to
drawing rules. Include a title of your choosing, centered below the drawing,
underlined with a ruler.
2. Under each sketch, in the Results section of your lab, you must tape in your sketches.
3. Following the first sketch, insert the bold words 1-9 Animal Group-Stability. Leave
these words bold.
4. Write observations about the animal you sketched (not bold).
1. Animal Group ( E.g. fish, bird, reptile, protist, cnidarian)
2. Level of organization ( cell, tissue, organ, organ system?)
3. Symmetry ( radial or bilateral)
4. Habitat (describe specific habitat . E.g. rainforest floor, deep ocean,
temperate grasslands, desrt)
5. Features ( 3 unique features & how they help the animal to survive)
6. Reproduction (sexual or asexual)
7. Offspring ( how many per breeding season?)
8. Living (what is the niche? How does this animal make a living?
E.g. predator, herbivore, detrivore)
9. Stability ( Threatened or endangered? Why or Why not?)
5. Sketch the second animal, put the same bold words below the sketch, and write
observations about animal number two.
Day 2 of Lab
Part B
1. Use the pictures of extinct animals to complete the data table. Include both tables in
your write up under the heading Data, immediately after the second set of
observations.
2. Delete all unused parts of the template from the write up.